*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature P: Personality Disorders.

Calcium

Calcium has several important functions.

These include:

A lack of calcium could lead to a condition called rickets in children, and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life.

Sources of calcium

Sources of calcium include:

milk, cheese and other dairy foods
green leafy vegetables - such as curly kale, okra but not spinach (spinach does contain high levels of calcium but the body cannot digest it all)
soya drinks with added calcium
bread and anything made with fortified flour
fish where you eat the bones - such as sardines and pilchards

Adults aged 19 to 64 and over need 700mg of calcium a day.

You should be able to get all the calcium you need from your daily diet.

Taking high doses of calcium (more than 1,500mg a day) could lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea.

You should be able to get all the calcium you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.

If you take calcium supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful.

Taking 1,500mg or less a day is unlikely to cause any harm.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature P: Personality Disorders. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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